Thoughts on do you know how to learn
If I asked you, “Do you know how to learn?” You'd give me a strange look, then you'd ask why I was asking you that question. Then you'd ask me if I thought you were stupid. You'd also let me know that you have a degree and if you didn’t know how to learn you'd never achieve that accomplishment. I'd assure you I didn’t mean to offend you, I just wanted you to think about the question seriously then answer.
Think about it for a second, you were never taught how to learn. Teachers taught you content and expected you to learn it. You were more or less left to your own devices to figure it out. Maybe you figured out the best learning strategies on your own. And maybe you didn’t. If you were never taught how to learn, how do you know if you used or are using the best strategies to learn effectively?
To add to the complexity of the question, “Do you know how to learn?” rote memorization is a learning technique commonly practiced in the western world. Research studies in neuroscience and learning science show that simply memorizing text is not effective. Other strategies such as understanding the text, practicing active recall, teaching the information to another person are activities that help learners. I cannot remember learning most of these strategies in school, can you?
I know about learning strategies because I read about them in books. For a couple of years now, I’ve had an interest in learning and memory but didn’t do anything about it. You know how that is. John Lennon nailed it when he said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” However, a month ago, I started to read books on how to learn. Lifelong learning is big for me. I'm always reading books because it gives me pleasure and I learn something new in the process.
[Just for you: If you’d like to get a copy of the Learning to Read Again Tips sheet, find out how.]
When I read for information or to better understand a topic, I always take notes to remember more of what I learn. However, there is that popular adage, “You don’t know what you don’t know.’ It’s so true. So far, I’ve read Learning How to Learn, How We Learn, and Teach Yourself How to Learn. I have to re-read the book, The Thinkers Guide for Students on How to Study & Learn now that I know a lot more about the topic.
After intentionally learning about how to learn, it immediately became clear to me how little I know and understand about effective learning strategies and taking tests. Many of the things I’ve been told about learning are false. And research on learning science says so. It’s not just someone making stuff up.
The problem with starting with the easy stuff first
For instance, if you’re taking a test, you would start with the easy problems first because that’s what you were taught. But research says you should start with a hard problem first. The brain operates in two modes – focused and diffuse. When you’re in focused mode, you do just that, you are focused on the task at hand. When you’re in diffuse mode you let you mind wander, and not think about anything.
During a test when you start with a difficult problem, your mind is in focused mode. If after two minutes you’re stuck or the problem stumps you, switch to an easy problem. You may be thinking, so why didn’t you start with an easy problem to begin with in the first place. When you do what’s contrary to common belief, the brain becomes a dual processor. That means while your brain is in focused mode working on the easy problem, it’s also working in diffuse mode on the difficult problem in the background. In the diffuse mode, that’s where ideas start to bubble up to the surface.
Leaving things to the last minute doesn’t work
You already know that leaving work or school assignments to the last minute doesn’t work. But what’s the alternative when you’re overscheduled as it is. Start on the assignment the day you receive it and work on it a little at a time. When you have enough time and not feeling hurried, you’re able to gather the right information, generate ideas, presenting better solutions in the end. Starting early gives you the space and time to think about things.
If you’re taking classes, you need the time to practice effective strategies and space out practice so that you remember more of what you’re learning. When you do this, you perform better on your tests and assignments.
Why you need to learn, unlearn and relearn
Alvin Toffler once said, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” We’re living and working in a dynamic environment, so the Toffler quote is truer now than before. A lot of research is being done on learning science and it’s a good thing because you can use what scientists discover to excel in your career.
“A 2012 study by McKinsey Global Institute of office workers in the US, Germany, France, and Great Britain to find out how much time they spent reading and answering emails and processing written information found that the average was 5.6 hours a day.”
That’s a lot of reading and how will you digest the information and use it strategically? If you understand how the brain works and have learning strategies that you can pull out of your mental hat, and you’ll be leaps and bounds ahead of your colleagues and peers.
Have you read?
The social economy: Unlocking value and productivity through social technologies
Old meets new learning strategies
There were a few learning strategies I was successfully using before I read
Learning How to Learn, How We Learn, and Teach Yourself How to Learn. However, I always wondered if I was missing out and could do better. It was difficult to go back to the basics. I felt a lot of angst, but I had no choice. I revamped the Strategic Reading Challenge because I realized that participants needed to learn and understand successful learning strategies so they could learn the key skills for future jobs faster. It’s a case of slowing down to ultimately speed up.
Which books to read to learn how to learn
Although all three books are excellent and I recommend all three highly, if I had to choose just one for you, it would be Learning How to Learn. However, I think it’s worth your time and effort to read all three. Investing your time in reading the books, you’re laying a strong foundation for learning any skill in the future.
The books are written for students, but you will benefit from their content. In several instances while taking notes when reading the books, I applied the information to learning from books. I’ve been applying what I learned from the books. For instance, just before I go to bed, I try to recall what I learned from reading earlier.
If you’d like to get a copy of the Learning to Read Again Tips sheet, find out how.
Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and Teens
How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It HappensTeach Yourself How to Learn: Strategies You Can Use to Ace Any Course at Any Level
